Tuesday, November 8, 2011

W.I.P. Wednesday

So remember how every week I have been mentioning the Little Apples fabric that was coming my way? And I built all this suspense, not telling what I was intending it for? Well it came, is adorable, and I happily starting cutting away and making the mystery project.....the Perfectly Portable Cushion....for my sewing chair, and let's just say it did not work out. My piping was not good, the zipper didn't go in well, the gusset didn't quite fit ~ I knew I would not be happy with it. I pulled out the piping to salvage as much of the aqua fabric as I could, but now to use the fabric for something else had limitations because the fat quarters that I had, had largely been cut up. In the end I decided on a wonky log cabin with a fussy cut center, as big as I ended up wanting it to be, to hang on the wall at the end of our otherwise plain and dark hallway. I think it will be fun! So even though my original idea didn't work, it's not all a loss. I followed Quilt Dad's wonky square in square log cabin tutorial.

{the log cabin so far - will probably still add a few more rounds - currently about 20" across}


Also in the works is a table runner for our kitchen table, out of leftovers from my Summer Sampler. The plan is a wonky star pattern, in the style of this, this, and this. Pieced wonky, and arranged randomly. Is anyone else like me in that it takes a LOT of planning to be random?? I have a whole drawing showing the placement and sizes of the stars. Does that nullify the randomness?? ;-) For the stars, I'm using this tutorial from Silly Boo Dilly.

The stars I have finished so far....



I'm sensing a red/aqua theme here this week! Thanks for stopping by!

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

60 comments:

felicity said...

Sad about the cushion fail. But I do love a wonky log cabin so....nice save! I have to plan my random too - you're not alone. Happy WIP Wednesday!!

Susan said...

I am so with you about 'random'! I need to plan all random, wonky and improvisational projects!

Unknown said...

love the fabric in your wonky log cabin, well worth saving.

Live a Colorful Life said...

Yes, "random" definitely takes planning. Your stars look great!

Laura said...

that's very nice use of Little apples. the white sets it off nicely :)

Anonymous said...

I have to plan my random-ness, glad I am not alone in that. I have not got up any nerve to make a wonky block of any type though...might be TOO much randomness for me to handle.
cjnid AT imaxmail DOT net

Anonymous said...

I think planned randomness is good! Your wonky stars are beautiful!

Quilt Genius said...

I have such a hard time doing anything wonky...but I love the way they look!

Mary
http://www.quiltgenius.com

trish said...

Look at how cute that is! :o) I recently made a mistake too. I hope it will turn out as cute as yours! :o)

Leanne said...

I love that wonky log cabin you made, a nice save from your cushion. I admire your ability to plan the randomness on paper, I have to do it with blocks on the floor.

Poppyprint said...

Bummer about the cushion, but yes you made a great save! I like the log cabin so far and your stars are fab, too.

Debbie said...

Agreed - always too bad when something doesn't go as planned BUT look at the great wall hanging - definitely worth it!??! Love that you plan your randomness - me too....one step at a time!

KristyLou said...

Yay for graph paper!!!! I love the sketching part :)

Cille said...

The log cabin is really cute :) And love your stars project as well. Big sigh... another want-to-do-project ;)

Jennifer said...

so cute! - i just bought a little apple charm pack - love your block!

Dee said...

THose star blocks are so sweet! Love the colors!

Melanie said...

I love your wonky star blocks! So cute!

Christie describeHappy said...

Good save on your cushion project, seems you made the best of it and I can't wait to see what your star table runner looks like!

JuliePickles said...

Haha, I have found that random takes a lot more planning for me too! I hate to waste fabric though so I feel I have to plan everything out to eliminate as much waste as possible. Great save on the Little Apples project! Good job making lemonade out of those lemons!

The Thompsons said...

Everything looks great! Love the wonky stars.

Kristen said...

Love it! Both are going to be fantastic. Adore Aneela's red and aqua. Working on some Pips this week too. And Yup, I think random is not always so random! :)

Melissa said...

That wonky log cabin is fantabulous!!! I can't wait to see it all together :) And your stars are great too! I try to do wonky ones and there always a little too wonky! HA!

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

very nice log cabin and wonky stars....

Sydney said...

Haha.. I feel you on the "organized random-ness"! I totally do the same thing!

Anonymous said...

I seem to be clicking on log cabins because that's what mine is this week, too.

Oh yes--randomness takes planning. I mean there's always that little bit you can improvise on but the best randomness is well thought out. Don't you think it's a matter of balance?

Love the log cabin block and those fun wonky stars. Terrific!

Elizabeth E.
occasionalpiece.wordpress.com

Foolish Feathers said...

I love the idea of the wonky stars blocks! I haven't the courage to do something wonky yet, but you've spurred a little inspiration in me, I must try something wonky by the end of the year!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

I love wonky star blocks

Kristy said...

I don't think there is anything wrong with planning the unplanned. Saves a lot of re-planning later!

Marsha Cooper said...

It's really neat how the points on the stars are all different.

Kerstin said...

I'm glad you could save it/convert it to something else you are happy with. And wonky stars are always wonderful!

Chelsea said...

Your stars are awesome, Heather! I'm kind of the opposite, though. If I don't do a ton of planning, everything heads into the land of wonk very quickly!

Rachel said...

It is hard to make 'random' because it actually isn't truly random-if it was, they wouldn't fit :) The wonky stars are very fun, though.

Rebecca said...

Great wonk! And loooove Little Apples.

KellyS said...

Love your wonky stars! And look! Hometown at the top of your blog! LOL I can't wait to get going on my HT project, just cut into it today. I have been so obsessed with Sunkissed, it is a nice change. I will be subscribing to your blog! Thanks for stopping by mine!

Anonymous said...

Your stars rock! I'm going to follow you and I hope you will follow me back!

Annabella said...

Your wonky stars are lovely and sorry the original idea for Little Apples din`t work but the wall hanging will look great!

lifesrichpattern@gmail.com

Marci Girl said...

Well even though you didn't like your pillow, I think you salvaged the fabric quite nicely! That star quilt is going to be great!

Pippa Parsons said...

love the wonky stars, Im a bit uneasy about wonky things, like order and to plan but my sewing often makes things wonky anyway :O)

Marg said...

Love the log cabin and congratulations for salvaging something that didn't work out, I would usually throw in the corner if it didn't work out for me.
I can not do random, I am with you in that it has to be all worked out before hand and be controlled. It probably isn't technically random, but Im still happy to call it random!!

Toni said...

Excellent save, Heather! Love the log cabin! Your wonky stars are going to be fun, too. I think that a lot of "random" is actually very planned!

Elizabeth Dackson said...

I love that log cabin and your wonky stars! Bummer about your pillow not coming together nicely, but I'm glad to hear you were able to salvage some of the fabric and make some of it work. Can't wait to see more stars!

Ella said...

Love the wonkies! I've got a batch I'm working on as well!

Amber said...

Love the fabric! So great! Also, thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on the Homemade Stockings!

Marlene @ KISSed Quilts . com said...

There must be a more important intent for that apple fabric. Hate it when that happens.

Melinda said...

Sorry about the cushion, but your stars look great!

Manda said...

I never would've know that log cabin was a fail from another project. Great save.

Bree said...

Oh, too bad your cushion didn't work out the way you hoped, but at least you were able to salvage the fabric to make something you can still enjoy!

Shannon said...

I love the wonky stars and the wonky log cabin block, both are so cute! It does take a lot of planning to look random- when I actually place things randomly they usually look off balance or weird or in-a-pattern-in-spite-of-everything. Good luck!

Kelli Fannin Quilts said...

I am loving your projects! So cute!! :o)

Maggie said...

I love your use of Little Apples in a wonky log cabin!

Anonymous said...

That's an important skill you put into use there..flexiblity! Great job!

Shocking Hocking said...

love your stars - really nice

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Looks fantastic! Loving those stars and the Little Apples is gorgeous, that will certainly brighten things up :)

Brooke said...

I asked for red, aqua, and gray blocks for the 4x5 bee on flickr and your little apples block would make a perfect addition to the blocks I've received. I may need to go get me some of that fabric.

Allison said...

sorry your cushion didn't work out, but you repurposed the fabric into a lovely wallhanging.

Katy Cameron said...

Love that wonky log cabin, and those wonky stars are looking fab too

Lee said...

The Little Apples log cabin is fab—love the colors! Thanks for linking up to WIP Wednesday. : )

Al said...

So glad you were able to re-purpose your fabric! The pop of aqua in that block is great.

Leila said...

Love the log cabin. Isn't his tutorial great?

M-R Charbonneau said...

That's too bad about the cushion, but a fabulous save as a wallhanging. Great job! I have a hard time with random too. :)